Is thermal paste needed only if you go with non-stock?

[Xpred]

I was told better thermal paste is only needed if you use a better HSF rather than stock because the temperatures are then very minimal. Is this true? I usually have stock HSF, but I always use a better thermal paste (e.g. arctic ceramique or as5).

 

[Injury]

The difference between one thermal paste and the next doesn't change all that much. You will never see any huge drop in temps with a different kind of paste, really.

The stock HSF with the average processor isn't designed for performance, it's designed to do the job and be cheap for them. They don't care if you overclock, they make the HSF to cool in an average situation.

With that said, why would it matter if you put expensive paste on a processor that is, at best, average? 😉

 

[Xpred]

So I guess I shouldn't use better thermal paste if I'm just going with the stock HSF?
Oh well, stock everything it is from now on. I rarely do any oc'ing anyways. Hehe. I just like components to be "very cool" regardless.

 

[xanis]

Well if you don't plan on doing any overclocking, then the thermal pad that comes pre-attached to your CPU will be just fine. If you do plan on doing some overclocking, or you just want your processor to have better heat distribution, then you should get some thermal compound. I would suggest AS5, or if you're a cheap bastard, any other no-name brand from your local CompUSA.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

I have an old socket A system with a 2400+ Semphron which i use the stock HS for and after taking out the thermal pad and applying AS5, my temps dropped about 10C . . . thermal compound WILL decrease temps even on your stock HS . . .

Thermal compound is used because even the best heatsinks don't have 100% contact with the CPU. If it did, you wouldn't even need thermal compoud . . . so the difference between on Thermal compound and another should be minimal but the difference between the thermal pad and thermal compound is huge . . .

 

[2kfire]

Originally posted by: 1Dark1Sharigan1
I have an old socket A system with a 2400+ Semphron which i use the stock HS for and after taking out the thermal pad and applying AS5, my temps dropped about 10C . . . thermal compound WILL decrease temps even on your stock HS . . .

Thermal compound is used because even the best heatsinks don't have 100% contact with the CPU. If it did, you wouldn't even need thermal compoud . . . so the difference between on Thermal compound and another should be minimal but the difference between the thermal pad and thermal compound is huge . . .

When I removed the thermal pad off my Athlon XP 2200+ and changed it for OCZ Ultra silver2 (kinda old, but pretty good stuff), my temps went down 7 celsius, using the same heatsink, case, fan etc.

 

[Zepper]

To get the most out of your stock HSF, it doesn't hurt to use a better brand of TIM (thermal interface material). The OEM HSF that comes with most AMD CPUs are ajigo.com units and they usually come with a decent TIM for the die-type processors (Athlon, Duron, Sempron Socket-A). They used to come with the gray Shin-Etsu phase-change pad - they may now come with Honeywell (pink). You are unlikely to see a lot of difference going to on of the better TIM greases. But if you ever remove your HSF and need to put it back on, you're going to need some stuff anyways - never reuse your TIMs.

.bh.